Benefits Of Mulching For Your Landscape

February 9, 2018. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn Care • Corpus Christi

There are all kinds of gardens in the world, and the most gorgeous ones might have many unique features—native plants that vary from region to region, for example, or a particular gardener’s own artistic stamp on the landscape design. But nearly all the world’s most lush and beautiful gardens have something in common: They use mulch to help keep undesirable weeds away and keep plants, flowers, trees and vegetables thriving. This is because every good gardener knows the benefits of mulching.

Mulch isn’t very complicated or mysterious. At its base, mulch is nothing more than a material, usually something opaque, that is applied over the soil in a garden in order to produce healthier and lower-maintenance plants. Sounds simple, right? Yet the benefits of mulching are many, and they apply to nearly all types of plants and gardens. Whether you’re mulching a flower bed or vegetable garden, applying mulch around trees … Read Full Post »

Ways To Save On Heating Costs This Winter

February 9, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

With energy costs taking up a significant portion of your utility bill, it pays to find ways to reduce your home heating bills. In this post, we’ve put together some tips describing different ways to save on heating costs that are easy and will all add up to reduce your home heating bills by a significant amount. Many of you will be relieved to hear that you don’t need to have much background on heating and cooling systems to act upon this advice, either. Some of this advice just takes a minute or two. Even small changes will add up to big savings over the course of a cold winter.

Check For Leaks

Check your air ducts for gaps, leaks or disconnects. If you have any disconnects or leaks in your ductwork, your heating bills could be 25% higher than they would be if these gaps were sealed. Most homeowners choose to hire a professional to properly diagnose and fix … Read Full Post »

Home Remedies For Dog Fleas To Protect Your Pet

February 8, 2018. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Pest Control • Orlando

Dogs are often said to be man’s best friend, and many people love having dogs as live-in companions. Indeed, these animals are a savvy homeowner’s dream: With their protective instincts and loud barking at strangers, dogs can scare off intruders and help keep your home and family safer. And what can beat that wagging tail and welcoming canine grin when you return home after a long day?

But if there’s one thing homeowners can’t stand about their furry friends, they tend to host thriving bands of tiny, bloodsucking pests. That’s right, fleas! These irritating insects aren’t just annoying—they can be dangerous since they can carry diseases and cause serious health problems for animals and humans alike. Fortunately, home remedies for dog fleas can help keep fleas and ticks at bay.

In this post, we will explore low-impact ways to manage flea infestations in your home or pet. If you are safety conscious … Read Full Post »

Texas Native Trees: Species That Thrive In Our Climate

February 6, 2018. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn, Tree Care & Trimming • Austin

Trees add to the aesthetics of your property, help reduce energy costs and improve your home’s value. But which trees are, in fact, best suited for the extreme heat and dry conditions we often experience here in Texas?

Many homeowners aren’t sure which types of trees have adapted to our climate. They may also not realize that planting these species on your property can reduce your water bills, decrease the time you spend on maintenance and lower the risk of a tree’s limbs falling because of stress from drought. Keep reading to learn more about Texas native trees, the fastest growing shade trees in Texas, Texas evergreen trees, Texas flowering trees and the most common trees in Texas.

Texas Native Trees: Low Maintenance Additions To Your Landscape

A recent study reported that about 90% of the trees found in Austin are native. The survey put the final tally of the number of trees … Read Full Post »

Composting Oak Leaves: A Complete Guide

February 5, 2018. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn, Tree Care & Trimming • San Antonio

Newcomers to Texas and other parts of the country where oaks are prevalent are surprised to learn that these stately trees lose their leaves in the spring rather than during the fall. While oaks give us wonderful shade from the intense sun, they do give us lots of other things during the year: leaves.

No matter how long you’ve had oak trees, if you’re like a lot of people, you’re probably not a huge fan of having dead leaves cover that beautiful lawn you’ve spent so much time on. Moreover, you might have heard that oak leaves are acidic and worry they will damage your grass or soil if you don’t get rid of them quickly.

In the past, you may have simply raked up the leaves and put them in bags. Is there a better solution?

In fact, there is not only a better solution, but several options. Most of them come down … Read Full Post »

Preparing House For Extended Vacation: What About Your AC?

February 2, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

You’ve boarded the pets, asked the neighbors to get the mail and turned off all your appliances and lights. You’ve taken care of everything, and now you can enjoy a few weeks of well-earned vacation away from the hassles and tasks at home—but not quite. Before you hit the road, there are a few things you need to do to prepare your HVAC system for vacation.

Preparing a house for an extended vacation will keep your air conditioner in good shape and ready to resume service when you return. At the end of your vacation, the last thing you want to do is return to a hot, sweltering home and a big heating contractor bill because you failed to take a few simple precautions before leaving on your trip.

Your HVAC unit is one of the most complex pieces of machinery in your home. It’s also one of the biggest consumers of energy. Properly … Read Full Post »

What is Holganix? What’s in It? How Does It Work?

February 2, 2018. Posted by Amberlee Warner in Lawn, Lawn Care • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

Our lawn and pest care philosophy is based on the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which seeks to blend a variety of eco-friendly strategies to solve a pest problem. You may think this is unnecessary since chemical pesticides are convenient and often successful.

But pesticides contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans, wildlife, and the environment. They contaminate the air, water, and soil, disrupting all the links in the food chain.

There are many reasons why eco-friendly pest control is preferable:

Balanced Ecosystem, Healthy Environment
Pests Often Build Up Resistance to Pesticides
An IPM Approach Is Safer and More Sustainable
IPM Saves Money

One great way to avoid the adverse effects of pesticides is by replacing chemical pesticides with organic fertilizers and composts, such as Holganix. There are many different options when it comes to lawn care, but Holganix has proven itself to be the best lawn fertilizer for strong soil and healthy plants.

What is Holganix?

Holganix … Read Full Post »

What Do Baby Termites Look Like?

February 1, 2018. Posted by Vanessa Jenkins Green in Termite Control • Houston

Any homeowner who has seen small, winged, ant-like insects in or around their home has probably wondered, What do baby termites look like? It’s wise to worry about a possible termite infestation, as these insects are a severe problem if they infest your home, garage, or other structure. They can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your property.

In fact, Americans reportedly spend $1 billion each year on termite control and repairs to correct damage caused by these small but powerful pests. Clearly, a savvy homeowner should know how to identify termites. Telling these creatures apart from winged ants, for example, or any other look-alike insect species, however, can be challenging. Many of us know what these insects look like in their adult form, but what about termite larvae? Read on to learn about baby termites, the termite life cycle, the swarming season, and how to keep these … Read Full Post »

The Importance of Eco-Friendly Pest Control

January 26, 2018. Posted by Russell Jenkins in Lawn Care, Pest Control • Dallas-Fort Worth, Tyler

We share a planet with other creatures, some of which we live peacefully with, others not so much. Unfortunately, most pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, contain chemicals that cause health complications for humans and wildlife.

The Pesticide Problem

Pesticides cause a wide range of short and long-term health hazards, such as:

Headaches
Skin and Eye Irritation
Dizziness and Nausea
Cancer
Endocrine System Damage
Birth Defects

Pesticides present acute dangers to other living organisms as well, sometimes having devastating environmental effects. Pesticides can pollute the air, water, and soil. They are harmful to many living species and can kill microorganisms that would be have eben beneficial for soil health.

Over one billion pounds of chemical pesticides are used every year in the United States (about 5.6 billion pounds worldwide) (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

This causes a significant health and environmental concern.

Water and air contamination
Killing of plants and wildlife
Chemical over-exposure and the harmful associated health problems

Some of the common chemicals in pesticides are methoxychlor, vinclozolin, … Read Full Post »

HVAC Trends & Home Renovations To Save Money

January 25, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Air Conditioning & Heating • San Antonio

Keeping up with heating and cooling trends can be time-consuming. There are a few trends that are here to stay, however, some of which can also help reduce your energy bills year after year. Our team at ABC Home & Commercial Services has compiled the following suggestions to help you save money now and for years to come.

Heating & Cooling Trends

Today’s air conditioners and heat pumps can be up to 40 percent more energy efficient than older models. The money homeowners can save in reduced energy bills by purchasing a new, high-efficiency system is often worth the investment.

A good air cleaner can help trap many of the pollutants that may be traveling through your home. As part of your heating and cooling system, these devices filter indoor air to help improve indoor air quality. To ensure the continue to serve in that role, indoor air quality products are often backed by a five-year parts limited warranty.

Another important aspect of your indoor … Read Full Post »